Public gives its feedback over plans for new Nottingham walk-in centre

X-Rays, blood tests and treating broken bones are among services patients would like to see offered at a new combined health walk-in centre.

The existing NHS Walk-in Centre in London Road, and the 8am-8pm Health Centre in Upper Parliament Street, are planned to be replaced by one centre with extra services when their contracts finish at the end of March 2015.

NHS Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is responsible for city NHS services, wants to create a new combined Urgent Care Centre, which it says could provide a better service for patients.

Feedback from medics and the public is now contributing towards the plan, which could take a step forward on Wednesday when the CCG’s governing body meets.

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A CCG spokesman said: “We’re very pleased with the level of response to the initial public engagement survey and events carried out in April. We are now in the process of finalising a detailed report of our findings and will continue to work with providers, patients and clinicians to develop the specification of a new Urgent Care Centre that will meet the needs of the local population.”

The two walk-in centres currently treat a combined 70,000 patients a year for minor injuries and ailments, with no appointment needed.

The most common cases are dealing with wounds, dental problems and acute skin conditions.

The new centre is planned to be based in the city centre, although details of a possible location have not yet been revealed.

The CCG’s governing body is recommended to approve establishing a working group for the delivery of the project when it meets at Bulwell Riverside, from 9.30am.

It is currently planned for a provider for the new centre to be lined up by the end of the year, with the centre to launch in April 2015.

Nottingham City Council’s health scrutiny panel is also set to discuss the plan on Wednesday at Loxley House, in Station Street, from 1.30pm.

Members will be updated on the initial outcome of consultation with clinicians and the public in April.

Outlining patients’ feedback, a report set to go before the panel said: “Patients agreed with suggestion of diagnosis for suspected breaks, treatment of acute eye conditions and the emphasis on accessibility to public transport.”

An online survey on the proposal also received around 600 responses.

Feedback from clinicians and health service providers outlined the importance to assess and treat patients in one visit.

The report adds: “In terms of location, it was suggested that the service is located in the city centre, near a pharmacy with parking and public transport are important with access for drop off/ambulance transfer being crucial.”

The 8am-8pm Health Centre costs around £1.32m a year to run, with the London Road walk-in centre costing £730,000 annually.

The clinical commissioning group says the intention is for the new centre to have the same level of funding and to continue to provide the ‘walk-in’ element of the service, but to also provide an extended range of urgent treatment for non-life threatening conditions.

Representatives from Healthwatch Nottingham, which represents patients and health service users in the city, met with the CCG on Tuesday to talk about the plan.

Healthwatch Nottingham chairman Martin Gawith said: “We have some concerns around the proposals and we wanted to discuss them with the CCG prior to the board meeting."